Page 14 of Stealing Sloane

They had given her and Reverend Lennon a short version of what happened, though excluded the part where Stella tried to kidnap Sloane and take her on the run.

“I’m just glad you and Stella found each other.”

“Yeah.”

“So, was I lying or not?”

The familiar male voice caused a different type of emotion coursing through her. Ignoring it, she turned back to the sink, turned the tap on, and reached for the sponge. “It’s really no trouble to clean five mugs, Alice.”

“There you are, Jacob,” Alice greeted. “Everything okay?”

“Sure, Mrs. Lennon. I was just outside, chatting with the guys.” Devon and Charley had brought their own bodyguards, who were apparently employed by the same company Cliff and Jacob worked for. “So, how was the reunion?”

Huffing, she said nothing and began to scrub the used mugs with the soapy sponge.

“What’s the matter?” Jacob was now a few inches behind her. “Cat got your tongue, Sweet Stuff?”

“I amnotsweet, don’t call me that,” Sloane bristled.

“Hey, if you can call me Hot Stuff, I can call you Sweet Stuff.”

To her mortification, her cheeks turned warm at the memory of that first night when she asked him to fuck.

God, I can’t believe I said that.

She really must have been horny or her brain got knocked around when Cliff’s wolf sent her crashing into that wall, because she’d never been that forward with anyone.

“Aren’t you glad you stayed?”

She snorted. “I would have found out anyway.” After putting away the last mug into the dryer rack, she turned to face him. God, she wanted to wipe that smug look off his face.

“You’re not going to try to leave again, are you?”

“Leave?” Alice piped in. “But you just reunited with Stella and now Devon. Where would you go? Wouldn’t it be safer for you here? You’re very welcome to stay as long as you need.”

She shot Jacob a dirty look. “Haven’t decided yet.”

“I’m sure she doesn’t mean leave forever, Mrs. Lennon.” He cocked an eyebrow at her. “Right, Sloane?”

“Right,” she said through gritted teeth. “I should get back to Stella and Devon.”

“Of course, dear, go ahead. I’m going to start dinner.”

Sidestepping Jacob, she headed to the living room. He trailed after her, much to her annoyance, though she was determined to ignore him. When she entered, a strange vibe permeated the atmosphere, and both Devon and Stella’s gazes immediately trained on her.

“What did I miss?” She plopped down on the couch next to Stella.

“I guess I should have waited until you were around to make my announcement, but I’ve decided on something,” Stella said. “I’m going to West Virginia, to Cliff’s uncle’s ranch, so I can learn how to control my wolf.”

“She’ll be safe there,” Cliff added before Sloane could say anything else. “And I’ll be there to protect her.”

“That’s actually not a bad idea,” she said.

“Really?” Stella asked.

“Yeah. Training will help you control your Lycan side. Most, if not all pups need to go through it.” She herself had been taught by the adult wolves from her clan at a type of training camp during the summer she turned fourteen. Of course, Ronan didn’t do this out of the kindness of his own heart—he actually used the camp to find out who could be useful to him. It was there that the handlers had seen Sloane’s “potential” and where she learned how to hone her criminal skills that could benefit the clan.

Pushing the memories away, she let out a laugh. “Besides, if the rest of your family is as huge as you are, Cliff, then at least I know Stella will be safe.”

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